Ascent of Mammals

How did the thousands of different mammal species on the planet today evolve from a shrew-like, nocturnal insectivore that lived 200 million years ago? What allowed our ancestors to survive the cataclysmic impact that wiped out the dinosaurs and become one of the most successful lineages on Earth? How did mammals adapt to myriad lifestyles and populate every corner of the globe, from oceans and deserts to tropical forests and mountains?In The Ascent of Mammals, acclaimed science writer John Reilly weaves a tapestry of stories about the fascinating shared history of the egg-laying monotremes, the pouch-bearing marsupials and the ubiquitous placentals including Homo sapiens that make up the mammalian world. Drawing from the cascade of unforeseen insights into evolution provided by modern genetics research, Reilly describes the development of key mammalian traits (such as mammary glands, warm-bloodedness and a three-boned middle ear) as well as species-specific adaptations. The book